Dark Horse Team Evidently in the Mix for Sam Darnold
Last offseason, Minnesota Vikings fans wondered where quarterback Kirk Cousins might land after hitting free agency.
Dark Horse Team Evidently in the Mix for Sam Darnold
This year, they have the same arrangement with Sam Darnold, who quarterbacked the Vikings to a 14-3 record, 36 total touchdowns, and a one-and-done playoff performance.
So far, teams like the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants have twisted in the rumor mill as most likely Darnold destinations — all teams that need some semblance of a quarterback solution(s) in 2025 and beyond.
But another team is apparently in the mix — the Indianapolis Colts.
NFL.com’s Nick Shook recently sized up the Darnold Sweepstakes, and the Colts made an appearance. “Despite calls for change, the Colts kept GM Chris Ballard after their disappointing finish to the 2024 season, a campaign in which they bounced back and forth between Anthony Richardson and Joe Flacco. Ballard admitted they need to bring in competition for Richardson in 2025, and Darnold could provide such a battle,” he wrote.
Most expect the Colts to roll with Richardson in 2025 after investing a 1st-Round pick in him during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Shook added, “They have $28 million in cap space to work with at publishing, per Over The Cap, making such an addition possible financially. Richardson could make a Darnold signing pointless if he cleans up his mechanics and proves he can stay healthy, but after being caught in a tough spot in 2024 because of Richardson’s inconsistency and Flacco’s age, the Colts owe it to themselves to consider veteran options.”
The Colts actually went through a recent period of re-tread passers, including Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan, and Carson Wentz. In that vein, the Colts have the modus operandi to sign Darnold.
It’s just that so much hope is invested in Richardson.
Meanwhile, late last week, Colts reporter Destin Adams tweeted, “Colin Cowherd just said on his show that he is predicting that the Colts sign Sam Darnold this offseason. I’d be shocked if they went that route but I guess we will see.”
The Raiders, Steelers, and Giants probably make more long-term sense because those clubs have no solutions in-house at quarterback. At least the Colts have Richardson as a beacon of hope.
Free agency kicks off in six weeks, and Darnold’s next destination will take shape.
The Vikings are not expected to renew Darnold’s deal, mainly because he can grab $40+ million annually on the open market.
But the Colts could pay it, says NFL.com and Colin Cowherd.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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